Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the National Assembly of Seychelles, marking his 20th address to a foreign legislature."It is a special honour to stand before you as the first Indian Prime Minister to address this National Assembly. I bring with me the warm greetings and best wishes of 1.4 billion people of India," Modi said.Also read: Tribute to his leadership in Blue Economy, ocean governance: Seychelles Prez on conferring 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' title on PM ModiRecalling his first visit to the island nation as Prime Minister, Modi said: "The first country in the Indian Ocean region that I visited as Prime Minister was Seychelles in 2015. I came here because I believe that Seychelles occupies a special place in India's vision for the Indian Ocean. As I return here after a decade, that conviction is stronger than ever."Tracing the roots of bilateral ties further back than formal diplomacy, Modi said the friendship between the two nations predates the establishment of diplomatic relations by centuries. "Our friendship did not begin 50 years ago with the establishment of our diplomatic relations. It began much earlier, in August 1770. There were five Indians among those who arrived on board the ship Thélemaque at Ste Anne Island. That voyage showed the path to many more who followed. Over time, their stories became part of the story of modern Seychelles," he said."It reminds us that the bonds between us were not created by government. They were built by people, nurtured by families, and sustained by generations," Modi said.Modi also offered an expansive view of how India perceives Seychelles. "When people look at a map, they may see Seychelles as a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. But we see something much greater. We see a nation whose horizons stretch far beyond its shores," he said.Seychelles has helped shape important global conversations, Modi said, noting that the Global South and especially island nations are the most impacted by climate change, with its effects already visible on marine lines and coastal life. The remarks carry particular weight given Seychelles' status as a small island developing state, where rising sea levels and ocean warming pose existential risks to coastlines, livelihoods and biodiversity."Climate action must be guided by fairness, responsibility and equity. This is the essence of climate justice," Modi said. Both India and Seychelles, he added, seek a world where development is more inclusive.Modi invoked geography as a unifying force rather than a barrier. "The Indian Ocean does not separate India and Seychelles. It connects us. That is why we meet not as strangers, but as old friends," he said, adding: "As maritime neighbours, we recognise that the security of one contributes to the other."Also read: India, Seychelles unveil 19 outcomes spanning defence, digital payments, space, healthPaying tribute to the island nation's citizens, Modi said: "The greatest strength of Seychelles is its people."Evoking a five-decade arc of naval friendship, Modi noted that 50 years ago, at the dawn of Seychelles' independence, INS Nilgiri was present at Port Victoria as a mark of friendship. Today, INS Tarshak and INS Ikshak are docked at Port Victoria to mark the golden jubilee of bilateral ties, he said.He added, "India's Digital Public Infrastructure has demonstrated how technology can expand opportunity, improve governance, boost financial inclusion and deliver services for hundreds of millions of people.""Seychelles occupies a special place in India's vision for the Indian Ocean. We also discussed our shared vision for the future," Modi said.The address came during Modi's state visit to Seychelles, which yielded 19 bilateral outcomes spanning defence, digital payments, space and health, underlining India's engagement with the Indian Ocean island nation under its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy.